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Zermatt Travel Guide

Enjoy a holiday in the charming town of Zermatt, Switzerland's
best-known ski resort. Nestled on a high plateau, it sits at the
foot of the highest and most photographed peak in the country, the
Matterhorn (14,692ft or 4,478m). The resort is a picturesque, if
rather sprawling, old mountain village that is car-free with
Swiss-style chalets.

The village of Zermatt can only be reached via a spectacular cog
railway from the valley below. It has one of the best networks of
super-efficient cable cars, gondolas and cog railways in the
country that whisk skiers to three separate ski areas and to
altitudes of over 12,000ft (3,600m). Twenty-one of the 36 lifts
also operate during the summer to cater for the busy hiking and
climbing season.

There are also plenty of non-skiing holiday activities in
Zermatt, superb views, some of the best mountain restaurants
worldwide, and a raucous nightlife to keep everyone entertained.
The Matterhorn Museum commemorates the tragic first ascent of the
Matterhorn in 1865 and the many lives claimed by 'the killer
mountain', as well as telling the story of Zermatt.

Because of abundant snowfall, high altitudes and the glacier
area of the Klein Matterhorn, a Zermatt holiday offers some of the
finest skiing in Europe, and glacier skiing can be enjoyed well
into the summer. The high and extensive terrain stretches across
three individual mountains and mainly caters for intermediate and
experienced skiers. The resort is best known for its excellent
powder skiing, although off-piste areas and unofficial runs should
only be explored with a guide, due to sudden drop-offs and
avalanche risk.

Intermediate skiers have a wide range of slopes to enjoy around
the Zermatt-Matterhorn Ski Area and it is possible to ski across
all three mountains in a day. Klein Matterhorn is reached by the
highest aerial cable car in Europe that provides access to a
snowboard half pipe and the longest ski run in Europe, an
exhilarating slope with breathtaking views that drops all the way
down to the village. The easiest slopes are high up on the glacier
in the Klein Matterhorn region, but beginners should be aware that
trails that start out as novice often end up being intermediate and
there are no beginner trails that connect the mountains.
Snowboarders share the same exciting terrain.

Switzerland is renowned for high quality products, and most of
them are on offer in the dozens of classy shops that line the main
street of Zermatt. Price tags are heavy. Favourite holiday buys are
of course souvenirs, from fine Swiss watches to the classic Swiss
army knife, or perhaps a T-Shirt bearing an image of the mighty
Matterhorn. Cuckoo clocks and fluffy toy animals abound, too, and
there is enough jewellery to stock a treasury. Being a ski and
climbing resort, Zermatt also boasts several stores offering the
latest in equipment and outfits, and there are also numerous
designer clothing boutiques.

The holiday hub of Zermatt excels particularly in the area of
fine dining, with a multitude of options, but those who prefer
something a little more basic can also find McDonalds in the Main
Street. The most charming dining experiences are offered at the
mountain restaurants in little villages (like Sunnegga, Rothorn and
Findeln) surrounding the town, where quaint chalets have been
turned into gourmet kingdoms and view sites topped with terraces
offer hearty snacks and warming drinks. The mountain restaurants
specialise in luncheons, and reservations are advisable.

In Zermatt itself there are plenty of restaurants throughout the
town. Regarded as one of the best is the Rôtisserie La Broche
in the Zermatterhof, with prices to match its elegant and flawless
reputation. Part of the Zermatt experience is to enjoy a
traditional Swiss fondue (either meat or cheese). The Stockhorn
Grill Room is highly recommended for fondue, as is the Café
Du Pont set at the south end of the main street. Homegrown lamb is
another local speciality, prepared in a variety of delicious
ways.

For an excellent budget meal while on holiday in Zermatt, the
station buffet (Bahnhofbuffet-Panorama) is a good bet, offering a
buffet 'menu of the day'.

On a Zermatt holiday, the evening fun begins when skiers are
wending their way down the slopes heading home, stopping off to
warm up with schnapps or a mug of hot spiced wine in one of the
cosy mountain stubli. In Zermatt itself, restaurants tend
not to open too early, so before dinner drinks are called for at
one of the multitude of bars hidden away in the village alleys, or
the firelit pubs in the hotels. To dance off the effects of dinner
later there are discos aplenty. The hottest spot in town is the
Post Hotel, which has a disco and a jazz bar. Moby Dick, in the
Schweizerhof, and Pollux are also happening spots.

Although Zermatt is a holiday resort dedicated to skiing, there
are plenty of other winter sports and indoor pursuits to keep
everyone busy. Hiking paths can be tackled even in winter, or those
who can't balance on skis can hire a sled from their hotel and
toboggan down the trails. A great way to get some exercise and
explore the area is to take one of the walking tours arranged by
the local tourist office. Sleigh rides and dog sledding are also
popular diversions. Indoors there are seven swimming pools and 17
saunas distributed through the various hotels, and indoor sports
like tennis, squash and even golf can be enjoyed. The village also
sports two ice rinks and a fascinating museum devoted to
mountaineering.

Zermatt is not a resort for beginners and the ski school has a
poor reputation. Getting up the mountain and around the different
ski areas can be slow, and the waiting time for lifts during the
peak holiday season can be long. Some of the expert slopes only
open in January or early February.